by Mónica Mendoza-Castrejón

If we want a true economic recovery for Kent, we need a budget that breaks down the structural inequities that have left communities in Kent disconnected and disenfranchised for far too long. Too much of the Kent budget is focused on policing and not enough on our community’s needs.

These inequities have never been clearer. We are in the eye of multiple storms — amidst a global pandemic that is cutting through our Black, Brown, and low-income communities like a scythe and an economic recession that is devastating the finances of People of Color. Too many of us are in crisis mode. Every day, we see families grieving a sudden loss, facing food and housing insecurity, and worrying about their kids’ education.

To meet the scale of this need, Kent City Councilmembers need to act now with compassion and political courage and to step up to ensure a just recovery for all. Kent City Council must reject an austerity budget that balances our national crisis on the backs of already-struggling working families. This means rejecting proposals that hurt our communities — like the City’s plan to raise property taxes to hire more police — and ensuring that the wealthiest among us pay their fair share so that needed investments can be made in our city.